Starter for internal-combustion motors



Sept. 3, 1929. F. A. vAsTANO STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION MOTORS Filed Dec. 14, 1927 INVENTOR, FTeEL .WYQSTQMO I A TTORNEY v WITNESS starter element may Patented Sept. 3, 1929.-

UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. VASTANO, OI PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

STARTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION MOTORS.

Application filedifllecember 14, 1927. Serial No. 240,046.

One object of this invention is to provide an effective and simple overrunning clutch through the medium of which a rotating rotate the rotary element of'an internal-combustion motor, whereby to start the motor, and thereupon the latter element may rotate independently of the former. Another object is to equip a given type of rotary element of an internal-combustion motor with starting mechanism in such a way that the least possible alteration of such element shall be required. In the preferred form of I the invention the rotating starter element is concentric with the rotary element of the ihternal-combustion motor, but its own driving medium, as an electric motor, is oifset with relation to the axis of said elements and it drives the starter element through an endless chain or equivalent flexible connection; and another object is to provide in a simple way for taking up the slack in the chain in such a case.

The invention is herein shown, applied to the internal-combustion motor of a motoroat.

Fig. 1 shows such a motor in plan, equipped with this invention;

Fig. 2 shows, partly in side elevation and partly in section, the rotary element of such motor, the rotary starter element and the clutch;

Fig. 3 shows a fragment of the starter element; and

Fig. 4 shows how the starter motor is supported for adjustment of the driving chain.

The rotary element of the internal-combustion motor 1 here comprises the shaft 2 and the fly-wheel 3 keyed on the shaft, which (1 in the type shown usually has a threaded upwardly protruding end 4 to receive a nut surmounting the fly-wheel.

A rotating starter element, here a sprocket wheel 5, is to have its hubfi journaled on and in concentric'relation to said rotary element of the motor 1, and between these two elements an overrunning clutch is to be operative in the manner already generally stated. For this purpose the pre erred construction is as follows: 'A cap 7, having an upstanding threaded stud 8, is screwed onto the threaded end 4 of shaft 1, and this has screwed thereon a collar 9 having an annular ball-race 9, and a lock-nut 10 with a washer 11. An annular housing 12 surmounts the fly-wheel in concentric relation to said cap 7, being secured to "driven.

the fly-wheel by screws 13 driven into the latter through a flange 12" on the annulus, and this has an internally upwardly conical surface 12 and above such surface a ballrace 12. The hub 6 of the starter element 5 is arranged between the annulus 12 and collar 9 and has ballraces, as shown, tomatch the races 9 and 12, being revolubly supported by two sets of balls 14 and 15 running in said races. The annulus 12 contains a clutch member 16 whose outer eriphery 16 is conical to fit the conical sur ace 12 of said annulus. This clutch member and the hub 6 of the starter element, received thereby, have interengaging threaded or screw portions 6 and 16 both of which are here right-handed since in the example the starter element 5 and motor element rotate clock-wise as seen in the plan, Fig. 1. The clutch member is normally urged up to its workwith its surface 16 contacting surface 12 by a spiral spring 17 surrounding cap 6 and set in a recess 18 in the top of the fly-wheel.

When a rotary impulse in the clockwise direction is imparted to the starter element of sufficient power and extent to overcome the resistance of the motor 1 and start it the friction between 12 and 16*- is caused, by the ensuing screwing of the clutch member upwardly on hub 6, to become effective as a grip between the starter element and the rotary element of the motor so that the latter is On starting of themotor, and assuming that it rotary element then tends to rotate relatively to the starter element (either because its speed is the greater or the impulse imparted to the starter element ceases), eclutching will occur, the friction between 12 and 16 now tending to screw the clutch member downwardly on hub 6.

The starter element 5 is preferably driven by electromotive means requiring only the closing of an electric circuit to place said ele ment in rotation. In the drawing, 19 is an electric motor having on its armature shaft the sprocket 20 around which and sprocket 5 extends the endless chain 21; and 22 is the circuit containing such motor, a source of energy 23 and a circuit closer 24.

The motor 19 is so constructed that its armature shaft 19 is eccentric with relation to its shell (Fig. 4), which is circular in plan. The motor is clamped in a bracket 25 projecting from motor 1 so that it may be adjusted around the true axis of the thus circular shell, with the effect of varying the distance between the sprocket 20 (eccentricalcentric with said projection and affixed to the I to the shell) and sprocket 5 for tightening or loosening chain 21. This result may be obtained by turning the circular surface of the motor shell non-concentric with its armature shaft, such surface having rotatively sliding contact with a part of said bracket which is here shown as a fork with a split band 26 connecting its arms and havigg the tightening device (as a bolt and nut) 2 Havingth'us fully described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, with a rotary element to be started rotating including a fly-wheel having an axial projection, a collar removably secured on said projection and an annulus con- 1y related fly-wheel, said collar and annulus having concentric bearings, of a rotary starter element journaled in said bearings, and an 'overrunning clutch member operatively arranged between said elements.

2. In combination, with a rotary element to be started rotating including a fly-wheel having an axial projection, a collar removably secured on said projection and an annulus concentric with said projection and affixed to the fly-wheel, said collar and annulus having concentric bearings, of a rotary starter element journaled-in said bearings, and an overrunning clutch member operatively arranged between the starter and annulus and housed within the latter.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FREDERICK A. VASTANO. 

